Luanda – The Ombudswoman, Florbela Araújo, on Thursday in Luanda called for the lawyers to adopt an ethical stance committed to justice, with an awareness of their social responsibilities.
During a lecture on "Ethics, Deontology and Social Expectations of the lawyer", at the 1st Angolan Congress of Criminal Law, she said that the "jurist must have a critical vision and be deeply aware of their social context" and must not be fooled by the monopoly of the state and the law."
She called on jurists to be the first to denounce any practice of corruption, nepotism, fraud, easy profit, insubordination, influence peddling and others incompatible with ethical values.
On the other hand, Florbela Araújo pointed to ethics as the "centrifugal force" in the actions of the institution she heads, serving as the basis for the fulfilment of its mission, and recommended combating the culture of "more or less" in law.
Among other actions, she said, the Public Administration should continue to promote models of behaviour aimed at civil servants and administrative agents, in order to guarantee professionalism and urbanity in their relations with citizens.
Flor Bela Araujo also recalled the existence of the Ombudsman's Code of Ethics and Deontology, approved by Order no. 2/22, of 19 November, which establishes the primacy of "integrity, dedication and humanity" in the relationship between the Ombudsman and his deputy, as well as the Ombudsman's staff and administrative agents in their relationship with citizens.
On the subject of magistrates and bailiffs, the Ombudsman noted that "it is not uncommon for bailiffs, sometimes even magistrates" to accept payments or favours in exchange for speeding up cases.
Under the slogan "Angola's new legal, criminal and judicial reality - Challenges and Perspectives", the event included three panels, addressed by 12 other speakers, who spoke about "The New Angolan Penal Code and Criminal Procedure", "Public Security, Crime, Fundamental Rights and Freedoms" and the "Justice System in Angola. A look at Comparative Law in the CPLP", FMA/VIC/DAN/DOJ
